States with the most nuclear nameplate capacity
28 states report operating nuclear capacity in the finalized dataset. Illinois ranks first at 12,415 MW, followed by Pennsylvania and South Carolina. This ranking is based on nameplate capacity, not annual nuclear generation.
| Rank | State | Nuclear capacity | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 12,415 MW | 24.6% of state capacity |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 10,513 MW | 19.9% of state capacity |
| 3 | South Carolina | 6,875 MW | 25.6% of state capacity |
| 4 | Georgia | 6,506 MW | 15.3% of state capacity |
| 5 | Alabama | 5,630 MW | 17.2% of state capacity |
| 6 | North Carolina | 5,395 MW | 13.6% of state capacity |
| 7 | Texas | 5,139 MW | 2.9% of state capacity |
| 8 | Tennessee | 4,981 MW | 21.3% of state capacity |
| 9 | Michigan | 4,314 MW | 12.8% of state capacity |
| 10 | Arizona | 4,210 MW | 11.6% of state capacity |
Total capacity and portfolio dependence tell different stories
A large state can rank highly in nuclear megawatts while nuclear represents a smaller portion of its diverse fleet. A smaller state may depend more heavily on nuclear even with fewer total megawatts. Compare both columns before describing a state as “nuclear-powered.”
Capacity, generation, and demand
Maximum rated output under specified conditions, measured in megawatts.
Electricity produced over time, measured in megawatt-hours.
The rate customers consume electricity at a moment or interval, measured in megawatts.
Use this ranking responsibly
Nameplate capacity cannot answer how often reactors ran, how much electricity they generated, whether output was exported, or which customers received it. Those questions require generation and power-flow data.